Automobile jack



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AUTOMOBILE JACK N. A. NICHOLSON Filed Oct. 25, 1932 l i l it;

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Feb. 13, 1934.

. lvzz'kazts'agnaven tor N. A. NICHOLSON AUTOMOBILE JACK Feb. 13, 1934.

2 heets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1932 Zhwentor (Ittornegs Patented Feb. 13, 1934 1,946,984

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE JACK Nicholas A. Nicholson, Johnstown, Pa. Application October 25, 1932. Serial No. 639,523

6 Claims. (01. 254-94) This invention relates to jacks, designed for use end of a motor vehicle, is arranged near the center in connection with motor vehicles, the primary of the axle 5.

object of the invention being to provide a jack of As shown, the front jack embodies an arm a construction to be carried on the axle of a ve- 7 which is curved, as clearly shown by Figure ghicle, and adapted to operate under the momen- 2 of the drawings, so that it may swing under 60 tum of the vehicle, when the jack has been lowered the axle 5, from a position as shown by Figure to contact with the ground surface. 1 of the drawings to a position as shown by Fig- An important object of the invention is the ure 2 of the drawings. I

provision of a device of this character including The arm 7 is secured to the front axle, by

m-"a body portion carried on the rear axle of the means'of a separable clamp 8, which is formed 65 vehicle and cooperating with lugs secured to the with spaced ears 9 apertured to receive the pin brake drums of the vehicle, elevating the vehicle, 10 that also passes through the arm 7, at a point as the vehicle moves thereover. near the upper end of the arm. The arms 7,

'A further object of the invention is to provide are provided with notches '7, designed to env operating means for the jack, which may be congage the stop rod 8, at the front of the machine 7 veniently operated from a point adjacent to the as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. driver's seat, to the end that the operator may Thus it will be seen that due to this construchave complete control over the levers and control tion, the arm which is pivotally mounted on the means of the jack. front axle, is of a length to elevate the front axle,

Astill further object of the invention is to prewhen the vehicle moves rearwardly, after the 7 vide a jack of this character, which may be readily arm has been dropped'to engage the surface on and easily mounted on the usual motor vehicle which the vehicle is resting. structure, without the necessity of making exten- It will further be seen that due to the length sive alterations in the construction of the vehicle, of the arm 7, the axle will be elevated when the 2 "to mount the jack; arm 7 moves to its vertical or active position. 80

With the foregoing and other objects in view, In order to limit the movement of the vehicle which will appear as the description proceeds, with respect to the arm, a lug 11 is provided at the invention resides in the combination and arthe upper extremity of the arm, which lug is rangement of parts and in the details of construcshaped to fit over the clamp 8.

tion hereinafter described and claimed, it being As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, 5 understood that changes in the precise embodithe free end of the arm '7 is substantially wide ment of the invention herein disclosed, may be and inclined, the rear edge of the free end bemade within the scope of what is claimed, withing a greater distance from the pivot pin 10 out departing from the spirit of the invention. than the forward edge of the free end, with the- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a motor result that as the free end of the arm contacts 90 veh cle equipped with jacks constructed in acwith the ground surface, the vehicle will be raised cordance with the invention. gradually.

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional view through Teeth 12 are formed on the free edge of the a front axle and illustrating the type of jack used arm 7, and bite into the ground surface to pre- 0 with the front axle. vent slipping of the jack under rearward move- 95 Figure 3 is a rear elevational view thereof. ment of the vehicle being lifted.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through a rear axle The operating cable, by means of which the and its housing equipped with a rear axle jack. Jack is elevated or lowered, is indicated by the Figure 5 is a rear elevational view illustrating reference character 13, and has connection with the jack near one end of the rear axle, as in its the jack arm 7, at 14, the cable passing over pul- 10o inactive position, while the jack at the opposite le'ys 15 and 16 arranged under the vehicle, from end of the axle is in its active position and shown where the cable passes upwardly and is posi-' in section. tioned over the hook 15', provided for the cable,

Figure 6 is a view illustrating the manner of and arranged on the steering column of the vesecuring the operating cables to the steering post. hlcle. 105

Referring to the drawings in detail, the front Thus it will be seen that due to this construcaxle ofavehicle is indicated by the reference chartion, the operator may, should it be desired to acter 5, while the rear axle thereof is indicated elevate the front end of the vehicle, drop the by the reference character 6. jack arm. As power is applied to the drive wheels n,

The jack that is used for elevating the front of the vehicle to move the vehicle rearwardly, 11f

the teeth 12 will bite into the surface on which the vehicle rests, and the vehicle will swing upwardly thereover, until the stop lug contacts with the clamp, preventing further rearward movement of the vehicle and causing the vehicle to remain in a elevated position.

The jacks, which are mounted near the wheels, of the rear axle of the vehicle, include tubular body portions 17 which are mounted for swinging movement with respect to the rear axle or axle housing.

Operating in each tubular body portion 17, is a jack post 18, which is formed with a head 19 at its outer or free end, the head having its outer edge inclined and formed with teeth, to cause the jack to gradually raise the vehicle.

A coiled spring 20 is held between the inner end of each jack post and the tubular body portion in which it is mounted, so that the normal tendency will be to extend the jack post, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

The reference character 21 designates an arm that extends transversely through the jack post and operates in slots 21' formed in the sides of the tubular body portion 17, the arm cooperating with teeth 22 that are carried on bands 22', that in turn are secured to the brake drums 23 of the vehicle.

It will be seen that when the jacks are dropped into engagement with the ground surface and power is applied to the rear wheels, the teeth 22 will engage the arms 21, directing a pressure against the arms, and causing the vehicle to move rearwardly, under the momentum of the vehicle, the vehicle will swing upwardly, as the jacks move to their vertical positions. Lugs indicated by the reference character 24 extend laterally from the body portion of each jack, and contact with stops 25, extending from the collars 26, that are mounted on the rear axle housing, and which hold the jacks against movement longitudinally of the axle housing.

The cables for. operating the rear jacks are indicated by the reference character 27, .and pass over pulleys 28 and 29, from where they pass upwardly through the tubes 30, and are supplied with rings 29' that are hooked onto the proper hooks 15 of the steering post, which are carried by the ring 16. Springs 27 are connected in'the cables, and act to tension the cables at all times.

t might be further stated that because of the springs 20, the jack posts 18 are moved to positions so that the arms 21 cannot contact with the lugs 22 of the brake drums, when the jacks are in their inactive positions.

To lower the vehicle elevated by the jack, it is only necessary to start the motor of the vehicle and cause the vehicle to move forwardly and place the ends of the cables in their normally supported positions about the steering post, whereupon the jack arms will swing under the vehicle, to their normal positions.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with the drive wheels and axle of a motor vehicle, of a motor vehicle jack, including bands having teeth, secured to the brake drums of the wheels, tubular members pivotally mounted on the axle, jack posts slidably mounted within the tubular members, means for normally urging the jack posts to their extended positions, arms connected to the jack posts and extending transversely through the tubular members, said arms adapted to engage the teeth of the bands, and thereby connect the jacks to the wheels, and means for restricting movement of the motor vehicle with respect to the jacks.

2. The combination with the drive wheels and axle of a motor vehicle of a motor vehicle jack including bands having teeth, secured to the brake drums of the wheels, tubular members pivotally mounted on the axle, jack posts slidably mounted within the tubular members, coiled springs within the tubular members and engaging thejack posts for normally urging the jack postsoutwardly, means carried by the jack posts and engaging the teeth of the bands, and thereby connect the jacks to the wheels, said jacks being of lengths to elevate the wheels when the jacks move into engagement with the ground surface, and means for moving the jacks to their active positions.

3. The combination with the axle housing and the drive wheels of a motor vehicle, of a jack for each wheel, comprising a body portion including outer and inner telescoping sections, mounted on the axle housing and adapted to swing downwardly into engagement with the ground surface, a spring for normallyurging the inner section of the body portion to the limit of its outward movement, means for moving the jack into engagement with the ground surface, and engaging means adapted to connect the wheels and body portion when pressure is applied against the body portion by the rearward movement of the wheels, and said body portion adapted to elevate the vehicle, when the vehicle moves thereover.

4. The combination with the axle housing and drive wheels of a motor vehicle, of a jack for each wheel, each jack comprising telescoping sections, means for normally holding the telescoping sections in their extended positions, cooperating means on the jacks and wheels connecting the jacks and wheels when the telescoping sections are in their retracted positions, and means for restricting movement of the motor vehicle with respect to the jacks.

5. The combination with the axle housing and drive wheels of a motor vehicle, of a jack for each wheel, each jack comprising a section pivotally mounted on the axle, a jack section mounted on each pivoted section and slidable longitudinally thereover, means for connecting the jacks and wheels when the slidable jack sections are in their retracted positions, elevating the vehicle when the vehicle moves over the jacks. and means for restricting movement of the jacks with respect to the wheels.

6. The combination with the axle housing and drive wheels of a motor vehicle, of a jack for each wheel, each jack comprising a body portion pivotally. mounted on the axle housing adjacent to a wheel, a normally extended movable jack section forming a part of each jack and adapted to engage the ground surface to elevate the vehicle,

and cooperating means on the jacks and wheels causing the vehicle to be elevated, when the vehicle moves over the jacks.

NICHOLAS A. NICHOLSON. 

